Cross stitching with sporadic stitches...

[DueyCheatemAndHow]

I have cross stitched before but just bought an ambitious (for me!) project for a friend's new baby.

Quick question. If a pattern has say a few stitches of one colour together and then a few together someway apart, does it tend to be more sensible to do longer threads and keep them together or should I tie it off and start again? I've attached the link. Thank you!

www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/p/bothy-threads-love-note-cross-stitch-kit-24cm-x-28cm

That's beautiful! I think I would sew the areas of colour separately - otherwise the thread going across to different areas might show through to the front?

Oh gosh I hadn't thought of that! Thank you. Absolutely terrified of doing it and she is due in October so no clue if I'll get it done!!!

With one like that I would tie off and start again for each block as there is a risk of the thread showing through the fabric. Not such an issue with ones where every bit is stitched. Oh and don’t be terrified, just take it one stitch at a time and it will be great.

Thanks both!

Also - can't really start in the middle! I was thinking maybe starting with the 4 corner butterflies and sort of working inwards?

Do a loop start to secure your stitches firmly and you then only have one end to secure neatly.

(if stitching with the usual 2 strands, cut the thread twice as long as you want, fold in half and thread the cut ends through the needle. Pull needle though leaving loop on reverse. As you go back through pass the needle though the loop and pull tight. Your thread is then anchored tight and won’t work loose which can be an issue if you are only doing a few stitches each time)

Thank you, I discovered that half way through my last project and it was life changing!

I would probably still work out where the centre is and count out to one of the red flowers.

Oh that's a good idea, thank you!

Definitely start in the middle. Fold the fabric in 4 to give you the centre point. I usually put a running stitch in with a light colored thread - just sewing cotton will do, which will guide the fabric into 4 quarters. If you mark the centre point on the chart with a pencil, and maybe put the same lines in that you've got on the canvas, it makes things a bit easier. For difficult patterns I put a marker thread every 10 or 20 stitches and mark the chart too - it's harder to go wrong then. If you photocopy the pattern you can mark off the stitches you've done. Seems like a pain to do all the preparation but it makes the actual stitching a lot easier. Good luck, and please show us when you've finished! 😊

That's beautiful. I'm sure it will be a family heirloom when it's finished.
It's better to complete one flower/ butterfly at a time, working a couple of stitches on the underside to secure the thread before cutting it.

Oh these are such helpful ideas thank you! Baby is due in October, I'm not optimistic!

It's addictive though, you will pick it up and start stitching, before you know it a good few hours will pass! It's amazing how quickly it works up.